01608nas a2200193 4500008004100000022001400041245011900055210006900174260012500243300001100368490000700379520078800386100001601174700002001190700002101210700002301231700003001254856013001284 2010 eng d a0003-695100aEnhancement of anisotropic conductivity, elastic, and dielectric constants in a liquid crystal-gold nanorod system0 aEnhancement of anisotropic conductivity elastic and dielectric c aCIRCULATION & FULFILLMENT DIV, 2 HUNTINGTON QUADRANGLE, STE 1 N O 1, MELVILLE, NY 11747-4501 USAbAMER INST PHYSICScOCT a1519130 v973 a
We report electrical conductivity (sigma), dielectric constant (epsilon) and the elastic constant measurements in a nematic liquid crystal (LC) doped with small concentrations of gold nanorods. This LC-nanoparticle complex, shows not only orders of magnitude higher sigma, but also stabilizes its anisotropy. The epsilon data suggests an increased ordering in the nematic phase, and an improved antiparallel correlation of the molecules in the isotropic phase. Surprisingly, an anisotropic enhancement of the Frank elasticity is also seen. We suggest a possible electro/magnetomechanical conductivity switch and also provide explanations based on the aspect ratio of the nanoparticles vis-a-vis the LC molecules. (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3499744]
1 aSridevi, S.1 aPrasad, Krishna1 aNair, Geetha, G.1 aD'Britto, Virginia1 aPrasad, Bhagavatula L. V. uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/enhancement-anisotropic-conductivity-elastic-and-dielectric-constants-liquid-crystal-gold-0